Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind SpaceX and Tesla, turned heads on Capitol Hill Thursday as he was spotted carrying his four-year-old son, X Æ A-12, or "X," on his shoulders during a visit to meet with Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The father-son duo drew attention as they navigated the crowds in the Capitol building, with the young boy dressed in an outfit nearly identical to his father’s.
Dressed in a sharp suit and tie, Musk appeared every bit the corporate leader, while X sported dress pants, a gray sweater, and a sports jacket. The little one, who was also holding an orange basketball, looked like a miniature version of Musk, complete with spiked hair. Reporters and photographers couldn't help but notice their striking resemblance, often catching moments where both father and son made similar facial expressions, adding to the charm of the scene.
X, who was born in May 2020, has already made a few political appearances. Notably, he was seen at Mar-a-Lago during Donald Trump’s election night victory celebrations and at a Trump rally, donning a red MAGA hat that read, “Make voting great again.” The sight of the young boy holding up a Trump/Vance sign was widely photographed, with former First Lady Melania Trump seen interacting with him during the event.
While Musk’s relationship with some of his children has been in the news for controversial reasons, particularly with his daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson, who no longer wishes to be associated with her father, X’s public appearances have mostly garnered attention for their heartwarming nature. Musk has been outspoken about his disagreements with gender-affirming care and his criticisms of the "woke" movement, but X remains a central figure in many of his more personal moments.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy just concluded their meeting with Republican Congressional members.
— George (@BehizyTweets) December 5, 2024
The major highlight of the day was Elon's son, Emperor 𝕏, towering over everyone.
Barron Trump has met his match 😂 pic.twitter.com/vDnbLCD1A4
On Thursday, Musk’s visit to the Capitol was part of his work related to his new role in the incoming Trump administration. President-elect Trump has tapped Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to trim $6.5 trillion in government spending. Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who will work alongside him at DOGE, were in Washington to discuss their plans with lawmakers. The department, which will have an advisory role, is set to be dismantled in 2026, with Ramaswamy recently announcing that it would be “deleted” in two years.
Despite the political undertones, it was Musk’s walk through Capitol Hill with little X on his shoulders that captured the most attention, solidifying the young boy as a rising figure in his father’s public life.
